Expats In Estonia Praise Government Reaction To The Pandemic

Expats in Estonia are coping the best they can with the country’s coronavirus situation.

For almost a decade, Estonia and its capital Tallinn have been a mecca for expat professionals from many countries, especially for those in the tech sector. Obviously, the pandemic has affected their lives, but the majority are more than happy with the way the government has reacted to the emergency situation.

One expat from the Philippines told local media she’s coping well, especially as her employer is fully transparent and supportive. She added one positive point is that Estonia’s population is comparatively small, meaning controlling the numbers of those affected won’t be as tough as in many large countries. She emphasised she feels far safer in Estonia, praising the governments’ swift action, sensible guidelines and clear communication.

Government support for those unemployed as well as employers themselves is appreciated, as are the regular updates on the situation, and emergency information as well as English language healthcare are other positives. Another expat working in the hospitality sector who’s kept her job said she’s so lucky to still have work and an income as well as a comfortable apartment in which to spend the lockdown. She’s missing opportunities to travel but is happy to have the time to slow down and indulge activities such as reading, writing and cooking. Yoga and meditation also help.

Overall, the majority of expats are more than pleased with the official reaction to the pandemic although, now regulations are loosening somewhat, there’s some confusion in the capital as to exact instructions. The most important priority is that the hospitals and medical professionals should not be overburdened by infected patients, but a number of expats believe a carefully-planned opening up of social activities and the economy itself would be appreciated by all.